Michael Gutkin

From an early age, I loved looking through art books and visiting museums, as well as drawing and modeling with plasticine as a hobby. I currently live and work in Brooklyn, NY. During the last decade, passion for painting took a more serious turn. When I see an interesting face, a scene of someone interacting with a pet, or fruit on the kitchen table, I carry that image in my memory for a while, and then the desire to paint it arises. Regardless of the subject matter, I pay special attention to light, movement, texture, and color harmony. In my work, I strive to reflect the positive—and sometimes humorous—aspects of life. When I started out, I used acrylics, but then I discovered oil paints, which allow me to work longer and achieve better results. I prefer medium-sized paintings that fit better into an interior, although I can also create large-format works on commission.

As for my training, I utilize all available print and video materials by such masters as David A. Leffel; Daniel E. Greene and other masters from the Art Students League of New York; YouTube videos by artists Mark Carder, Stefan Baumann, and many others, as well as all available video content from Russian artists associated with the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts